rob: Be fair. You’re not being so nice here either. And I feel like unless Popa tells us exactly how he’s feeling (and sometimes even then), his tone always needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
And Popa, I don’t think that’s so true. From those who I’ve spoken to in the Chareidi community in Israel, they don’t seem afraid that they’ll be Shmaded. Nervous about the law, maybe. But I think you’re exaggerating the feelings (or the feelings are exaggerated by your friends who don’t really know what attitudes are like there either).